NEWS RELEASE
2024.10.31
"Social experiment on active use of road space using bollards"
Conduct
Using Marunouchi Nakadori Street Nakadori as a stage, we will examine the utilization of road space to realize a walkable city.
Mitsubishi Jisho Design Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Junichi Tanisawa; hereinafter "Mitsubishi Jisho Design"), SUNPOL Corporation (Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima; President: Rei Yamane; hereinafter "SUNPOL"), and Meiji University Educational Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masao Ueno) are pleased to announce that they will conduct a "Social Experiment on Positive Use of Street Space with Bollards" at Marunouchi Nakadori Street (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) during "Marunouchi Street Park 2024 Winter" from November 14 (Thursday) through December 25 (Wednesday), 2024. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) will conduct a "social experiment on the active use of street space with bollards" during "Marunouchi Street Park 2024 Winter" to be held from November 14 (Thursday) to December 25 (Wednesday), 2024, at .
丸の内仲通りでは、自動車の時間帯通行規制で道路を歩行者に開放してオープンカフェとする「丸の内仲通りアーバンテラス」や、終日の交通規制のもと道路空間を広場・公園のように転換する「Marunouchi Street Park」などを通じ、街路の活用方法についての検証が継続的に行われてきました。
これまでの検証では、道路空間が都市の魅力度向上において重要な役割を果たすことが確認できた一方で、車両通行止めが実施されていても歩行者は歩道を通行する傾向が強いなど、歩車道の一体化や、そのさらなる有効活用が求められていることが明らかになっています。
こうしたニーズに際し、３者は、一般的に車道と歩道の境界を区分するために路上に設置される「ボラード」に新たな機能を加えることで、人びとに車道と歩道の境を感じさせない、より一体的な道路空間を生み出すツールとすることを構想しています。道路空間の利活用ニーズが大きく変化している社会情勢の中、本社会実験を通して、多様なニーズに応える高度な道路空間の実現や、良好な道路景観の形成による都市生活の価値・魅力の向上とウォーカブルなまちづくりの推進に取り組んでまいります。
- Marunouchi Nakadori Street Urban Terrace Organized by: Otemachi-Yu Area Management Association (NPO)
- Marunouchi Street Park Sponsored by: Marunouchi Street Park 2024 Executive Committee
Consider the direction of the social experiment based on the resources of each of the three parties, industry and academia
This social experiment is an industry-academia collaboration between Mitsubishi Jisho Design, which was involved in the planning and design of Marunouchi Nakadori Street, the Architecture and Urban Design Laboratory (Professor Hiroyuki Sasaki) of the School of Science and Engineering at Meiji University, which is engaged in practicing urban design and planning through participation in projects in collaboration with local residents and local governments, and Sunpole, a manufacturer and seller of bollards, flagpoles, etc. The social experiment will be conducted in collaboration with the following organizations: In implementing the social experiment, Mitsubishi Jisho Design served as the coordinator, and a series of workshops were held to discuss the direction of the project, using the knowledge gained from the activities of Meiji University and the technology of Sunpole, and using Marunouchi Nakadori Street as the field.
From bollards that "separate" sidewalks and roadways to bollards that "connect" sidewalks and roadways
In this social experiment, by adding counter table functionality to bollards, which have primarily been used to separate sidewalks from roadways, a new space where people can stay and be active will be created at the boundary between the sidewalk and roadway, and the bollards will serve as a starting point for investigating changes in people's activities and the landscape. The results of the experiment will be jointly verified from multiple angles by the three parties, and more advanced consideration will be given to ways to utilize road space that will improve the attractiveness of urban life and contribute to walkable urban development, with a view to collaboration with Marunouchi Street Park and the permanent establishment of a road-side space connected via bollards.
4. Technical Considerations for Table Counters (Created by: Saint Paul)
Photos and perspective provided by Mitsubishi Jisho Design
Overview of the "Social Experiment on Proactive Use of Road Space Using Bollards"
| Implementer | Mitsubishi Jisho Design, Saint Paul, Meiji University Faculty of Science and Technology, Architecture and Urban Design Laboratory |
|---|---|
| place | Marunouchi Nakadori Street (Marunouchi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) |
| Period | Thursday, November 14, 2024 - Wednesday, December 25, 2024 During Marunouchi Street Park 2024 Winter event |
| Details of the project | Table counters will be installed at 14 existing bollards. We will investigate how the street space is being used by the general public, allowing them to use as they wish. |
Profiles of each participant
Mitsubishi Jisho Design Inc.
Mitsubishi Jisho Design, which oversaw architectural design and construction supervision Marunouchi Nakadori Street, which underwent partial renovation in 2002, and has been continuously involved in the implementation of Marunouchi Street Park and Urban Terrace, has adopted the brand slogan "+EMOTION" and continues to work to think about people, think about the city, and add further value to it. In 2024, with the aim of resolving social issues in urban development, the company established the "Social Design Office" to consolidate know-how and information and expand its future solutions business. In response to changing values and lifestyles in the post-COVID era, diversifying needs for outdoor spaces, and further effective use of public spaces, the company will utilize a variety of methods, including social experiments, to promote multifaceted initiatives through industry-academia, public-private collaboration.
Sanpole Co., Ltd.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020, Saint Paul has continued to contribute to urban development as a "director of enriching outdoor spaces." The bollards manufactured and delivered by Saint Paul Marunouchi Nakadori Street are now an important element of Nakadori Street's landscape. Due to their purpose, bollards have been designed to be safe and secure facilities, with emphasis placed on strength and ease of maintenance. However, with the growing momentum towards utilizing walkable road spaces such as parklets and pedestrian-friendly roads (hokomichi), there is a demand for more diverse functions and flexible use. In a changing society, new functions for bollards will be verified through this demonstration experiment.
Meiji University, School of Science and Technology, Architecture and Urban Design Laboratory (Professor Hiroyuki Sasaki)
The Meiji University School of Science and Technology Architecture and Urban Design Laboratory is researching how cities should be and how to create them, and is also working on urban design and planning through participating in projects in collaboration with local residents and local governments. By working with local businesses and residents to address unique issues in various cities and regions, we aim to contribute to the creation of a better society by utilizing previously overlooked spatial and physical resources through a multifaceted approach that includes events, workshops, product design, and more, and disseminating this information. We will use the results of these efforts in this demonstration experiment to create new value for the city.
Initiatives to utilize road space on Marunouchi Nakadori Street
Marunouchi Street Park 2024
(Organizer: Marunouchi Street Park 2024 Executive Committee)
This social experiment has been carried out every year since 2019 to examine the state of plazas and park-like spaces in the city center. This year marks the sixth year, and the scale of the event has been significantly expanded from last year, with traffic restrictions on a 500m-long stretch of road space in the city center being put into place 24 hours a day to transform it into a plaza/park-like space.
| 2024 Winter Implementation Period | Thursday, November 14th to Wednesday, December 25th |
| 2024 Winter Press Release | https://www.mec.co.jp/news/detail/2024/10/30_mec241030_msp |
| Official Website | https://marunouchi-streetpark.com |
Marunouchi Nakadori Street Urban Terrace
(Organizer: OMY Area Management Association, a non-profit organization)
This initiative involves opening up roadways to pedestrians by restricting traffic and turning them into open-air cafes. In 2014, Marunouchi Nakadori Street Nakadori Street was designated a special road occupation zone within the National Strategic Special Zone, and after a two-year demonstration experiment and a joint public-private collaboration to plan the future of the area, the project began full-scale operation in 2017. Chairs, tables, and parasols have been set up on the road, and food trucks and events are also held, creating a relaxing space for workers and visitors alike.
| Implementation period | Weekdays 11:00-15:00, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 11:00-17:00 |
| Overview | (Official website of the Otemachi-Yu Area Management Association, a non-profit organization) https://ligare.jp/project/urbanterrace/ |
that's all
For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact:
株式会社三菱地所設計 経営企画部 広報室
corporate.communications.office@mj-sekkei.com
株式会社サンポール 営業企画部 アドバンスグループ
tokyo-ag@sunpole.co.jp
学校法人明治大学 経営企画部 広報課
koho@mics.meiji.ac.jp
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